When it Rains, It Pours

Ever have one of those weeks, or months.
Our vacuum died (and a vacuum is not a maybe at our house with 4 boys, 2 large dogs and 1 cat and dust allergies), our washing machine is requiring a $200+ repair (I value clean clothes). We had to get new tires on our van, another $200+, but it was a manufacturer's defect and so we saved over $90 for three tires. (Trying to look at bright side here) I finally broke down and ordered our curriculum for next year, more $$$. But we need to go ahead and start schooling because we will be traveling most likely in August, when we typically start. Our land had to be brushhogged, another $1000. The pool repairs we have waited/put off for so long, finally happened, but cost $5000+. I keep asking myself where the money is coming from to pay for all this. Some has been savings, but mostly I think it is God just taking the little we have and blessing it. Our electric and water bills have been really low compared to last year (our yard is a shade of brown and you can break a sweat if you move in the upstairs of our house). I am couponing my brains out, and getting rewarded with lots of groceries and other items for REALLY cheap or free. I am happy to say we haven't even had to start eating just beans and rice. I could live this way, but my husband likes meat. All this to say, I have no idea how God is going to provide for the adoption. Because all my "saving efforts" seem to be in vain, some other major expense keeps coming that's not adoption related. I have come to the conclusion that we might just have to take a loan against hubby's retirement, but then I wonder if God is causing futility to all my efforts to save so that HE can provide for the adoption!? I know that our adoption of M was definitely God and there were road signs that pointed out God's provision. So maybe my washer breaking down, isn't that it is six years old, but it is a road sign that will point to God's provision for Elizabeth's adoption. I can only pray that I am learning the lesson and try to trust that my heavenly daddy has a plan, a time and a purpose for all things. Meanwhile we wait for the fingerprinting paperwork.

Update

We got an update on her measurements and personality today. The gist of it is she is about the size of a 12mo. old, 19lbs and 29.5 inches. She is active and outgoing. Part of me cringes and asks, "How active?!" But she also loves to be held... Hopefully she will like bows in her hair, wearing dresses and playing with 4 brothers.

LSC in China/Fingerprints Expire

I know what your thinking. Your fingerprints don't change, how can they expire?! Well if you are adopting your FBI fingerprints that you need for immigration approval do expire. I discovered last Thursday that ours had. No big whoop, right? WRONG!!!! Our fingerprints and immigration approval BOTH have to be valid in order to get our US Consulate appointment. Our travel is arranged around this appointment. So on Friday- remember the black hole of communication post?- I was scrambling to get the right information. The USCIS office got our paperwork on Monday for our fingerprint renewal.
-PLEASE PRAY that we can get in to Dallas late this week/early next week and get our fingerprints done/approved/renewed. We could get our travel approval from China anytime in the next 2-4 weeks. I know that God knew this would happen. Something has to give with raising four boys, homeschooling, GF diet, hyperactive child, two dogs, a cat, having house on the market, organizing a garage sale... But I don't want my mistake to cost us precious time that we could have with Elizabeth.
-Another prayer matter is that with H1N1 (swine flu) and the "pandemic", China is quarantining anybody with elevated body temperature/flu symptoms/or who was in near proximity to someone with symptoms while on the plane to China. China will separate children from parents (like your children who are traveling with you to China). Because of this along with the fact that M is hyperactive (was not looking forward to 14 hours in a plane with that) and Elizabeth will have quite a large adjustment going from a Chinese orphanage to English speaking parents, we will not be taking M or Z or J or T with us.
-Pray for my dear parents strength as they will have all four boys.
The list of prayer requests could go on, but if you have read this far, you've heard enough from me already.

Frustration never ends, but God remains faithful

Lest it be thought that my life is perfect or everything goes my way:
-Our adoption agency has once again been a black hole of communication for the last 24+ hours. I call, email -need a question answered!!!- and nothing.
-I am crazy enough to consider becoming a foster home again, right in the middle of Elizabeth's adoption, so that we can provide a loving and possibly permanent home for a beautiful sibling group of four children. I've met them, I love them and they hold a special place in my heart, but maybe that may be all that God has for me concerning them. God sees their need and I have to trust that He has their best at heart.
-There are good days and there are bad days with our dear M.
-Clean (at least it is clean!) laundry is PILED on my loveseat in need of folding and putting away.

Matthew 6 (the Message)

^25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

^27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

^30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

³⁴"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

I found this interesting....

While listening to Focus on the Family tonight one of the hosts said something that stuck with me. "Changing things and having hope starts in our own home".
May I be raising children and living a life that impacts the world for the LORD. Amen

We Have It!!!!!

Well technically it is not in our hands, but our adoption agency called and they have our Letter Seeking Confirmation!!!! We will have it tomorrow, need to sign it, return it via fast mail to them by Friday and then it will be in China on Monday! Whew!!! It will be five to eight weeks till we travel depending on how long it takes China to issue our travel approval.
Today was already a special day, it's our 150th monthaversary. My loving hubby sent me flowers, how sweet :) And now their dual purpose-monthaversary and a baby girl! I love when he saves money!
Happy June 15th!

Answered Prayer -Even If It Does Take Years

We bought our house almost 7 years ago. About 6.5 years ago a playground was installed between a school building and our house. This playground has been the source of much irritation, frustration, tears, migraines, sleepless children, etc. As our next door neighbor described it, it sounds like 17 children getting raped and murdered every day, and he doesn't even live directly behind it! With our upcoming adoption and Elizabeth hopefully taking naps I was not looking forward to trying to get her to sleep with all the screaming. For over a week now I have heard heavy equipment doing "stuff". I finally made a couple calls to find out what was happening behind our backyard. According to two different sources the playground is being removed!!!!! There is conflicting information about what is going there- another temp building or a gym.... But my heart is soaring at even the thought of not hearing all the screaming. I have learned to love the summer, cold days below 40 and rainy days, the children aren't on the playground then. We have enough noise in our home without it coming through the walls! I had prayed for 5 years for the playground to be removed and for the last year I have prayed that God would give me grace to deal with the noise. I would just like to encourage you all that God does hear prayers and He will answer, it may just take a loooong time. I am also encouraged that though my wish of being with Elizabeth on her two year birthday is really just wishful thinking at this point, God does have a plan. His timing is perfect and in the meantime we trust, wait, pray and clean :)

Prayer Request

We have confirmations from two of the places where we applied for grants that they have recieved our applications. One is a matching grant, the other is a grant of up to $3000. Please pray that Lifesong and Show Hope will have wisdom and discernment.
Meanwhile we wait....

Update Time!

We received a letter from the State of Texas saying that we will be eligible for a $1500 grant. We have to complete paperwork now and when we return with Elizabeth before we can get the money. It's kind of like a rebate, but I can do rebates!
We have moved our two younger sons out of their room and are beginning to prepare it to be Elizabeth's room. I am not sure if we will decorate much before she comes or if we will let her help.
Checking out a friends blog today I found this: http://allforfunphotography.blogspot.com/2009/06/perfect-for-princess-giveway.html
It's hard to believe we will soon have a princess. I know her four princes are looking forward to "guarding" her! And the King and Queen are anxiously anticipating her arrival.

Thank you, Thank you

I haven't been posting because I have been busy applying for grants!
I do have an update- on fundraising that is...
Our photo shoot fundraiser raised $180. Thank you S family, E family, another S family and H family. Your generosity was overwhelming, I cried. Thank you to my dear parents too that sent $100, I know that is a big sacrifice for you.
Any day we could get the call that our LSC is here, in the meantime we wait and clean and sort out for our fundraising garage sale. Can you tell that I deal with stress by cleaning?
It's in times like this when my boat is rocking and the waves of uncertainty and life are rolling, I need to remind myself of God's faithfulness and how He continues to be faithful.
This picture of our sons reminds me of God's faithfulness. He comes along side us and never leaves us behind.